Organ donation involves removing organs from a deceased donor and transplanting them into recipients whose organs have failed. Major organs that can be donated include the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas. Other tissues like corneas and skin can also be donated. There is a high need for organ donors as over 100,000 people in the US need transplants but only around 30,000 receive them each year. Becoming a donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation and restore sight to 2 people through cornea donation. However, myths and misconceptions about the organ donation process often prevent people from registering.

1. DECEASED ORGAN
DONATION

2. WHAT IS DECEASED ORGAN
DONATION?
• Organ donation is the process of removing an organ from the organ donor and
replacing a recipient organ that has failed or become damaged by disease or injury.

3. WHAT CAN BE DONATED?
• Organ donors can donate major organs such as:
– Heart
– Lungs
– Kidneys
– Liver
– Pancreas
– Intestines
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4. WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONATED?
• In addition to major organs the following can also be donated:
– Corneas
– Skin
– Bone
– Heart valves

5. WHY ORGAN DONATION?
• High need for organ donors
• Myths/misconceptions regarding organ donation
• Becoming an organ donor can make a difference

6. NEED FOR ORGAN DONORS
• Despite medical and technological advances and increased awareness concerning
organ donation, the waiting list continues to grow rapidly whereas the number of
donors is growing at a much slower rate.

7. STATISTICS TALK
• Over 118,000 people need a life saving organ transplant (Moritsugu, 2013).
– Out of these over 3,000 people are in the state of Tennessee alone.
– Almost 2,000 on the waitlist are children under the age of 18.
– (Paschke, 2018)

8. 2017 AT A GLANCE
– In 2017 there were ever 114,000 people on the national waitlist for organ transplantation.
• Out of these only 28,500 received a life-saving organ.
• This leaves over 85,000 people waiting for the one thing that can save their life.
• (Paschke, 2018).

9. EVERY SECOND COUNTS
• Every ten minutes another individual is added to the waitlist to receive a lifesaving
organ donation.
• On average twenty-two people die each day waiting on organ transplantation
(Anderson, 2017).

10. • The need for organ donors is a continuously growing issue in the medical field
surrounded by misconceptions that can alter an individual’s perception on the issue.

11. MYTHS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION
• Many myths and misconceptions surround the decision to become an organ donor
despite the efforts towards educating the public on the facts of organ donation.

12. MYTH #1
• Myth: If I am an organ donor the hospital staff will not attempt to save my life in a life
threatening situation.
– If admitted into a hospital the number one priority is to save your life regardless of organ
donation status.
– Organ donation does not become a possibility until all life saving measures have been
performed or until brain death is confirmed.
– (Long, 2017)

13. MYTH #2
• Myth: An open casket funeral is not an option as an organ donor.
– An open casket funeral is normally possible for organ, eye, and tissue donations.
– The body is treated with the utmost care and respect during the entire donation process.
– (Long, 2017)

14. MYTH #3
• Myth: If you have a serious medical condition you cannot be an organ donor.
– Potential donors are evaluated at time of death for medical suitability.
– All medical history is thoroughly evaluated.
– (Long, 2017)

15. WHY SHOULD YOU BECOME AN
ORGAN DONOR?
• 95% of U.S. adults support organ donation, but only 54% of those actually registered
to become an organ donor (Anderson, 2017).

16. SOUNDS SUFFICIENT, RIGHT?
• Only three in every one-thousand registered organ donors are medically suitable for
organ donation at time of death.
– That leaves us with a fraction of suitable registered donors.

17. MAKING A DIFFERENCE
• If suitable you would have the opportunity to literally save not only one person’s life,
but multiple people.

18. HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD YOU
SAVE?
• By donating your organs you would have the power to save up to eight people’s lives.
=

19. HOW MANY PEOPLE COULD SEE AGAIN
BECAUSE OF YOU?
• Donating your cornea would restore sight to two people.
=

20. HOW MANY LIVES COULD YOU
CHANGE?
• Tissue donation can help heal up to seventy-five people.
=

21. CONCLUSION
• By choosing to become an organ donor and allowing your organs to be transplanted
after death, not only have you saved a life, but you have also saved friends and loved
one’s from pain and suffering.
• Knowing the facts behind organ donation and the extreme need for donors it is easy
to see how becoming an organ donor could make an extreme difference.